Manchester City are reportedly ready to activate the release clause for Real Sociedad star Mikel Merino, who was once on the books at Newcastle United.
El Confidencial claim via the Manchester Evening News that Pep Guardiola is a big fan of the Spanish international, with the City boss eager to add to the club’s central midfield options for next season.
With Merino having a release clause of €60m (£50m), City are more than capable of meeting Sociedad’s demands, with the Basque club unlikely to lower their demands for their star midfielder, whose contract expires in 2025.
The 25-year-old is familiar with Premier League football, with Merino spending a season at Newcastle and becoming a fan favourite at St. James Park with the Magpies supporters.
However, the former Borussia Dortmund star moved to Sociedad just one year later, where Merino has established himself as one of the top midfielders in Spain and becoming a regular for the national team.
And now, City are interested in signing Merino, who could be another sensational squad option for Guardiola’s side and a potential long-term member for the likes of Ilkay Gundogen and Fernandinho.
Merino could play role in City’s next era after Guardiola leaves
Guardiola’s time at City is slowly coming to an end, with the Catalan’s contract at the club expiring next summer and rumours suggesting the manager won’t extend his deal, and signing Merino could set the Premier League side up for a new era post-Pep.
Indeed, the Spaniard has been sensational for Sociedad in recent seasons, and a move to City would be a natural progression for Merino, who suits the club’s style of play that Guardiola has done well to establish over the years.
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